Waitangi Day - flag it?

Having witnessed the monumental fails
of other nations as they have moved from 'colonial
oppression' to self determination it behoves us to work
toward a strong and resilient structure based on the unity
of our citizenry and the work we do to make the principals
of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity present in our daily
lives.

Waitangi Day looms and we are sure to get the
usual suspects out making their anger fuelled bids for media
and sound bites. Where does our nation stand in our minds
and what does the constant chat about changing our flag mean
to the process of growth and stability?

If we change our
flag we have to go to the international community and say we
have changed who we are, we have moved forward, we have
taken a moment to alter our course and we want you all to
view this graphic image we stand under and understand
something new about us and find respect for that change and
the reasons behind it.

A National flag is a call to
unity...... so, if you are Maori and feeling disaffected and
do not think that the arch-conservative in Christchurch can
stand under your flag as we face the World together, your
flag is a fail... equally, if you are that arch-conservative
and do not think your flag fairly represents and includes
all Maori, your flag is also a fail.

A change of flag is
not a simple logo change, it is a change in thought process
and direction, it is a monumental chance for symbolic
bringing together of us all for the cause of our nation. It
is also a monumental chance for huge dissipation in the
belief structure that binds our society together and an
opportunity to cast ourselves in the eyes of the rest of the
World as, well, twats.

To change our flag we must
redefine who we are, what we stand for and what we are
willing to die for. If we bring that down to the level of
"the Canadian one looks nice, lets do something like that"
or "well the All Blacks wear it" we are in what can only be
described as a philosophical and spiritual nadir. Anything
less than excellence in such an endeavour is pedestrian,
weak and banal. If you want the fern, or a wave with stars
as our national flag, slap yourself hard and wake the ****
up, you might as well suggest jandals or a chocolate fish!
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Print maker, artist & social commentator,
Lester Hall is one of New Zealand’s most exciting
contemporary visual artists. Hall’s work is provocative,
striking, intelligent, and strongly political. Maori
commentator, Willie Jackson states, “he is a cultural
intellectual for NZ”. Hall has a clear message of unity
that radiates strongly from his Ngati Pakeha Inks series.

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